Vlad, man of blood, wants more pieces of Ukraine`

 Vladimir Putin does not want peace but more pieces of Ukraine. Vlad is on the path of destruction, on the path to gaining more land in Ukraine.  The former KGB man has a lot of blood on his hands, so many deaths, perhaps more that the infamous Vlad the Impaler.   

How many more will have to die, far from home and family?  The Russian fatalities are high but an  overall study shows that the military forces are hitting soft targets.

The bombing of the British Council building  is inexcusable. What a dreadful omnishambles!

Death of Spurgeon's College, a great loss in the Baptist Family

 Although there was great rivalry and sometimes it was not very charitable, I am grieving over the death, demise and disaster at Spurgeon's College.  I went to LBC now LST and Regent's Park College so there were and are connections with theologians, pastors, preachers, Baptist ministers and fellow travellers who had dealings, fellowship and happy memories of Spurgeon's College in south London.  Some of these people went to LST, Spurgeon's College and RPC, as I know from alumni meetings at the Baptist Assembly.  The esteemed Donald Guthrie and Derry Mac Macdonald travelled from Northwood to help Spurgeon's College with academic/ lecturing duties.  Other scholars lectured and studied in some capacity at these three colleges. 

Spurgeon's College has a place in my heart because Hornchurch Baptist Church was founded by CH Spurgeon, an Essex man who could be bolshie, and his brother. CHS was financially astute because he made sure that his students were placed at HBC, and financial support was forthcoming. It continued until these sad times.

Many questions come to my mind.  What happens to the land and estate?  What happens to the extensive library and historical memorabilia?  What happens to the students in the middle of courses, research and other projects?  

There must be an inquiry.  Could this onmishambles of a clusterfudge have been avoided?

The Sad Demise of Spurgeon's College

 Are we dealing with a disaster?

Many are shocked, some are surprised and others are suffering from a sense of loss, grief , a sort of bereavement. I find it hard to comprehend, for a great theological college has closed with no apparent prospect of a come back.

It was Spurgeon's College that produced Baptist preachers, ministers and missionaries. plus some outstanding scholars.  It is a very sad state of affairs.

This closure is an historic event, with significant consequences.

To be continued.

Justice and Judgment concerning the Post Office scandal and Paula Vennells

Sub post masters and village Post Office workers suffered significantly during the Post Office scandal. Many as we now know were wrongly accused of fraud and theft. Some served custodial sentences, felt suicidal and horrendous humiliations. Social media, the mainstream press and TV programmes have exposed the woeful and wilful prosecutions and persecutions. Some of these victims died under the wickedly contrived guilt, not able to clear their names and being treated as social outcasts and criminals. They were completely innocent.

And yet Paula Vennells has not to my knowledge served a day in prison for her iniquitous behaviour, as far as it has been revealed and  I am currently aware.  She now seems to be living comfortably in a Grade II listed house. Has she been involved in any restitution scheme or restorative justice arrangement?  Has Paula Vennells asked for forgiveness and expressed heartfelt repentance for her actions?  Is there remorse, regret and reconciliation? Will Paula Vennells spend time behind bars?  Perhaps she should work as a bar maid and buy drinks for her victims. What other punishments would you recommend?

Please let me know if you know the answers to the above mentioned questions and have some insights into the current situation then please let me know.

The End of Assad at last

I thought that Bashir al Assad would eventually be  removed,  but he lasted for much longer than I expected.  Looking back at my post in 2012, I did not believe that he would survive the mass protests and the strong opposition to his brutal rule.  His powerful allies saved him and allowed the reign of terror to continue.

Now that Assad has gone, never to return, the truth will be revealed. His evil legacy, harm, bloody acts and many crimes against humanity, his people, will come to light.  

He was such an eloquent, smart, soft spoken dangerous dictator.  He could convince people that he was acting honourably for his country against terrorism and in the interests of his people. The people in Homs and Aleppo, and many other places knew differently.  

Today many are rejoicing in his downfall but there are those who are very concerned about the future, especially if it is in the hands of warriors with no political nous and lacking ethical values.

Russell Brand the baptizer

 So Russell Brand has been baptized and is now baptizing. 

I find it amusing that Russell has been criticized for performing a baptism in his white underwear. If you look carefully at the Baptism of Christ by Piero della Francesca, and other masterpieces, great works of art, you will see Jesus and men in white underwear. 

Alexei Navalny, martyr and hero

 Alexei Navalny has died fighting the evil empire under Putin.  AN has paid the ultimate price for his opposition to the murderous regime that has enslaved the Russian people.  

In his death Navalny will be a hero and a martyr for the cause of freedom in Russia. Will his funeral and remembrance of his death lead to protest and demands for a decent future, a better life, a government without Putin, an economy that provides for the people and not for war?  

Where is the voice of the Russian Orthodox Church speaking out against the corruption, the unjust war, the evil occupation of land belonging to Ukraine? Why are the political murders not condemned by priests and prelates?  Like John the Baptist, authentic voices of the Lord has been silenced through death. Murder, mayhem and misery are evident in Russia today, and the misery will continue as dead soldiers killed by a merciless and menacing machine are buried for such a dreadful cause.

Putin will go down in history as another evil tyrant and mass murderer, a war criminal.

    Alexei, in the darkness you brought light.

    You fought against the Kremlin's might.

    You fought against their vicious lies.

    You heard the anguish and the cries

    of people wanting much better ways  

    Freedom and justice in their troubled days.

    And now though dead yet still you speak

    Even when so much is really bleak.

   Your life and words will indeed live on

   When all these despots are completely gone.